Poster Title

Presenter Information

Institution

Kentucky State University

Faculty ​Advisor/​ Mentor

Avinash M. Tope

Abstract

The exposure of farm workers to pesticides is increasing with time, which emphasizes the need to identify endpoints of exposure in the blood. In animal models, pesticides have been shown to produce oxidative stress. Glutatione peroxidase (GPX) is an enzyme found in cells that catalyzes the conversion of hydrogen peroxide to water, thereby preventing the accumulation of this toxic molecule as it can result in the development of oxidative stress. The objective of this study was to determine changes in GPX activity in the erythrocytes from the blood of farm workers. Farm workers and urban controls were recruited from local counties for this 3 year longitudinal study; farm workers, n = 16 and unexposed urban controls, n = 8. Blood samples were collected once every month during the six month growing season and every alternate month in the off season. Blood was drawn in Vacutainer tubes and brought to the lab on ice. The samples were centrifuged to separate erythrocytes, lymphocytes and plasma. Aliquots of all samples were stored frozen at -80o C. The activity of GPX was determined using NADPH and t-butyl hydroperoxide as substrate by a standard method. The initial results indicate a 24% increase in erythrocyte GPX activity in the blood of farm workers. This suggests an higher oxidative environment in the erythrocytes of farm workers.

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Glutathione Peroxidase Activity in the Erythrocytes from the Blood of FarmWorkers During the Growing Season

The exposure of farm workers to pesticides is increasing with time, which emphasizes the need to identify endpoints of exposure in the blood. In animal models, pesticides have been shown to produce oxidative stress. Glutatione peroxidase (GPX) is an enzyme found in cells that catalyzes the conversion of hydrogen peroxide to water, thereby preventing the accumulation of this toxic molecule as it can result in the development of oxidative stress. The objective of this study was to determine changes in GPX activity in the erythrocytes from the blood of farm workers. Farm workers and urban controls were recruited from local counties for this 3 year longitudinal study; farm workers, n = 16 and unexposed urban controls, n = 8. Blood samples were collected once every month during the six month growing season and every alternate month in the off season. Blood was drawn in Vacutainer tubes and brought to the lab on ice. The samples were centrifuged to separate erythrocytes, lymphocytes and plasma. Aliquots of all samples were stored frozen at -80o C. The activity of GPX was determined using NADPH and t-butyl hydroperoxide as substrate by a standard method. The initial results indicate a 24% increase in erythrocyte GPX activity in the blood of farm workers. This suggests an higher oxidative environment in the erythrocytes of farm workers.